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05 March, 2010

ConAgra Discontinues Penrose Sausage In Jars

Back in October 2009, I wrote a short review of Penrose Hot Sausage, a pickled sausage product made by ConAgra. I didn't like them very much, but several readers disagreed with me and left comments about how much they enjoyed them.

One of the comments mentioned that the sausages had been discontinued, and I decided to do some Googling. The first thing that I noticed was that every online source that I found listed all sizes of Penrose Hot Sausage as "sold out." When I looked up the product at ConAgra's website, I found that it was no longer listed in the drop-down menu of Penrose items offered by the company.

Finally, I called ConAgra's Penrose consumer help line at 1.800.382.4994 and spoke to a pleasant young lady who identified herself as "Bree." She confirmed to me that Penrose has discontinued all product in jars, and that the only Penrose items currently being packaged are in snack-sized shrinkwrap. She said the decision was made by ConAgra about 6 months ago, which is why it has become increasingly difficult for fans of the sausage to get their fix.

If you're a fan of Penrose Hot Sausage and you miss your favorite snack, it certainly wouldn't hurt for you to call ConAgra and politely ask them to bring it back. They might not listen, of course, but it never hurts to try.

99 comments:

I need my penrose sausage back in alabama, I have eating this sausage ever since I was a kid and I am now 52, and I miss my treat, to me they were so good, I buy at least 3 big jars a month, and alot of my family would to. Taken our penrose sausage away is like taken our love ones away, so please give us back our sausage

I need my sausages back in my life. I am 32 years old and can remember eating these delictable little things since I was 3 years old at my Great Grandparents house. It has been a staple of my snack food forever. How can we get Conagra to bring back our favorites?

I have been eating these delicious treats since I can remember. I had them for the first time at my Great Grandparents house and have had them as a staple of my snack diet for over 30 years. How can we get ConAgra to bring them back?

ConAgra stopped production on Penrose sausages in jars because sales were too slow to continue making them. The only way they'll bring them back is if enough of you out there bitches about it.

Call ConAgra and complain! Their customer service number is 1.800.382.4994. Go to the website and get their mailing address and organize a letter writing campaign. Your grassroots initiative will make a difference.

NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually just made a trip to Alabama just to stock up on these .. after trying Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly and the Maxwell AFB Commissary I finally resorted to looking online. My family back in Germany are going to be VERY disappointed - in me and now in ConAgra. I am definitely boycotting their other products until they wise up. This is as bad as when Old El Paso discontinued their hot salsa (not that 'Thick & Chunky' sweet mess.)

BRING BACK THE JARS!!!These are your words ConAgra....."Penrose pickled sausage has been satisfying consumers for more than 40 years. The Penrose family of brands—Firecracker, Tijuana Mama, and Big Mama—provides the perfect snack for every craving. Look for Penrose—the No. 1 brand of pickled sausage—in area convenience stores, and try all of the varieties." So much for satisfying their customers. I called and complained, sent an email and they actually sent me a coupon in the mail for a whopping free 1.7oz firecracker in the plastic wrap....COME'ON ARE YOU KIDDING ME.....You(ConAgra)says 'were listening'....maybe marketing & research should do some listening too. I also posted this to ConAgra's Email. D Alexander

What! No Penrose Sausages! I was told the place burnt down. Now I know why they are gone. I went to4 stores and no one has any. Please! Please! Please! Bring them back for everyone to enjoy. We need that pickled taste for sure. No one compares. Thanks

My husband and his co-workers are going to be very disappointed to hear that they can't get these in jars anymore. I used buy several jars at a time and the guys would all pay me back for going to get them. I wondered what had happened that I couldn't find them anymore. My husband used to save the juice and put boiled eggs in it to pickle after the sausages were gone. We are very disappointed in ConAgra Foods.

BILL, in N.C you know I was told the same story, that the building which produced the jar sausage had burant down. How after finding this, I now know the truth.You know I really love the jars of sausage and miss them bad, I've look in every store I came across for them, and have paid big money for the ones I've found in the pass few months, which where very few. I can't see way there no longer on the market, its looks to me you need to bring them back.Con Agra I'am very upset with you and will not buy any other products you sell if theres any way out of it. I suggest you bring the jars of penrose back to the public. Thanks for listening and please bring these sausage back to us.

As much as I appreciate your comments, please remember that THIS IS NOT CONAGRA. If you want to complain about the discontinuation of Penrose sausages, call ConAgra and complain to THEM, not me. The telephone number is 1.800.382.4994.

People are still wanting the sausage back, it was a good seller, come on people this world is bad enough, help us all out bring our favorite snacks back, or should we all boycott your products until you do, then your company may go under.....

This is the real reason why they dicsontinued making the Penrose Sausages. I am very upset :( I love these darn things and I looked forward to them every time I went home to visit NC....

On June 9, 2009 at 11:27am ET, the Slim Jim manufacturing plant in Garner, North Carolina was rocked by an explosion that resulted in the collapse of a section of the facility's roof and wall. Four workers were killed while over 40 others - including three firefighters - were hospitalized for burns and exposure to ammonia gases. The explosion happened when natural gas was purged into the interior of the building during commissioning of a new, gas-fired water heater.[27]

On March 3, 2010, ConAgra announced that they will close the Garner, NC plant in approximately 18 months, moving Slim Jim production to their plant in Troy, Ohio

Thank you for looking into this. Penrose Pickled Sausages have been one of my favorite stacks since I was a kid. I've had a heck of a time finding them. The only things I find are those shrink wrapped... way too salty sausages. They don't taste the same. Now I know they've been discontinued. I'm in business myself so I know there were good economic reasons why they are no longer available... BUT... I will miss them. Again.. Dave, thank you very much for investigating this.

I just searched for Penrose sausage and found this blog after I went to several stores looking for them. My Mom used to make Christmas time Hors d'oeuvres with them, cheese and green olives on a toothpick, and my wife wanted to continue the tradition.

ron said that everytime you people get a good thing going you want to up and change it or discontinue it i guess it's all about the money huh forget what the people want well you need to give us our sausages back and soon. i really did like those sausage.

I have been eating the Penrose Hot Sausages for years. They were the best. No other brand even comes close to this. Others are soft and squishy. I hate them. Please bring back the Penrose hot sausage and the pickled eggs. My whole famiy for years has loved them. My dad and mom, all 8 kids and our kids and grandkids love them. Bring them back please !!!

Please bring back the Penrose Hot Sausage. No other brand even comes close to the wonderful taste of Penrose hot sausage and pickled eggs. WE love them. My dad, mom, all 8 kids and all of us have kids and grandkids that love them. Please bring them back !!!!

I am most disappointed to now find out why all my searches for the jars of Penrose Sausage have been so fruitless. I only hope enough voices are heard to prompt the early return of this wonderful product .

Hello everyone. You can complain all You want on line about missing the Hot sausages, aint gonna help. Contact ConAgra 1-800-382-4994, I just did, and talked with Michelle. She is just a mushroom there, so dont take it out on Her. Ask her to relay a message to the Big Wheels. I even tried to buy the recipe to help all of us out. They laughed at me, sorry everyone.

QUIT WHINING, call ConAgra 1-800-382-4994, and ask if they will re consider bringing back the Hot sausages. If the Egyptian people can turn around their government, surley We can make Our voices heard. Ya got nothing to lose, except a phone call. Tell them WE are are ALL going to hold our Breath till We explode, and ConAgra will be responsible for Our demise. EVERYONE,,, CALL THEM

In the words of James Brown "Please Please Please" bring back the sausages. I will buy 10 jars right now (big ones). Higher price is fine, but not rediculous.By any chance, is ConAgra even reading these postings? If not, sorta like the President caring about us MIDDLE class people. Cmon ConAgra, atleast give a reason for hope. Talk to Us.

If ConAgra is listening to any of this, or wants to, They can give Me a call, and I will plead My case. I have 165 signatures asking for the return of the Penrose Hot sausages. I really believe they don't care.406-827-3558

I love the hot sausages also. Just the other week I thought about them and realized I hadn't seen any on the shelves. I began checking all the differnet stores to try to find them. Thanks for posting this I had no idea they were not making them any more. Please Penrose start making them again.

I am a 28 year old(female) meat cutter. I emailed ConAgra over a year ago asking them about the sausages. We loved them and so many of my customers do too! I had stocked them for over ten years... you have no idea how many people ask me weekly about Penrose Sausages. I now have their apology email in the meat office so I can show the customers who don't believe me. I'd love to see them come back! No other sausage we've tired compares!

im from south carolina and i love my penrose hot sausages......i have been pregnant two different times and both times i have craved these sausages...i refuse to eat any other kind of sausages.....i love these sausages.......please bring them back i always likes to buy them....

My grandma would buy me a big jar of the sausages on my birthday every year until they stopped making the jars and since she died last month I've really wanted a big jar of Penrose sausages but I guess I'm S.O.L ......

PLEASE BRING THEM "HOT SAUSAGES" BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't live with my wife anymore. She used to get the one gallon jar of "hots" and put them in the fridge. She has told me that her pop-pop had a jar for him and a jar for her and a bag of chips to share ever since she was about 3 years old. she is in her early 30's and he has taken the "angelic road of life" !! She definetly misses him but she really misses them D#MN SAUSAGES !!! ConAgra you had better bring them back, I don't know how much longer I can take driving around or calling around to find those jars!!!!!!!!!! MR.Parker Maryland

our whole family has been getting the big jars for years. Dad used to cut up hotdogs and tell us it was the same thing. No way did it compare. missed by a family of at least 40 to 50 people over the years. If it wasn't a good seller, it was in the advertising. because I have never met anyone that tryed them, not like them.

I have done a bit of searching online about this product and i have found nothing. I purchased a antique Penrose Polish Sausage jar. It says on the bottom Cherry Levis Products Corp from Philadelphia, PA. It has two pigs in top hats on the top. The bottom says 1872. Can anyone give me any info about this jar?I figured if there were any fans out there maybe someone could help me out. You can email me at jennyjones72956@yahoo.com

ANONYMOUS,ANONYMOUS, What's everyone afraid to say who they are? IF you are for a good cause or want something like a company bringing back a discontinued item like these Penrose Sausages IN JARS then what's wrong with giving your name(whether it's your first or your last). IF you had to sign a petition in order to show a company what you mean, you's have to sign your name & number or address. So how many people are going to know who you are online unless you tell them you wrote in? HEY CON AGRA FOODS- BRING BACK THE PENROSE SAUSAGES IN JARS PLEASE,Signed,Rick H.Tioga,PA

To my fellow Penrose addicts...I saw a recommendation from someone to try this other sausage company and I DID!! I ordered a 32oz jar of their "Long Lake Hot Pickled Polish Sausage" and I PROMISE that when you eat one, you can hardly tell any difference from the old Penrose!! YUM!! I am THRILLED!!Check it out for yourself...their e-address is: www.longlakefoods.com I'm in South Carolina and paid 19.99 + 9.95 shipping for the 32oz jar, took less than a week to get it, and am one HAPPY MAN!!

Well, this is sad news. I've been wondering why I can't find those wonderful little sausages any more, and now I know. I may try the other sausages if they're sold around here (Alabama), but I'm not paying $30 for a jar of them.

Hi Dave My first time here you have a nice blog,but people you need to Stop telling Dave to bring back your little pickled piggy's and call up ConAgra like Dave asked you over and over to do!! He is not with ConAgra! He is just a nice guy that thought enough of us out here to tell us whats going on. Even though he does not care for them himself.I like lakeside better. Think they will get it Dave?

I have been looking for my Penrose Hot Sausages in stores for quite some time now and now I know why I can't find them! I am so disappointed. We grew up on these and love them! I called Conagra, as you suggested, Dave and asked them to add my name to a list of customers who would like to see them back. I wish we could at least get the recipe!

I had heard the plant burnt down and I was just waiting for them to hit my store shelves again. I am so disappointed. My family has eaten them for years and at campfires would roast them over the fire and eat them. I will be calling to put my name on the list to get them back in jars. We would buy a gallon jar for 1 weekend of family camping.

as a kentucky resident we grew up eating penrose sausages, i am in shock they were discontinued because around here they were always sold out. i have however found a suitable replacement in herbs hot sausage found in the canned meat aisle in food city stores. still its not penrose. wise up conagra. a few dollars cant be that important. they sold good everywhere.

I got a great idea for this company, just make enough for the people that wants them and send it to them. I would like a case a week because I love them, nothing else you sell compares to this. thanks..

Please ConAgra bring back the penrose sausage it was a wounderful treat. Me and my husband would buy a jar a week, it was a good snack with vermont extra sharp cheese, potatoe chips and french onion dip.we need our fix back....

I called ConAgra to complain/whine/moan/groan/etc and the nice lady told me they (the employees) were told it was a by-product of bad sales/explosion that killed the jars of Penrose sausages. She said they get ALOT of calls about it and she would pass my comments up the chain of command. She said maybe if enough people called they would start making them again. I told her that their marketing department was placing some of these in the wrong type of locations, for example...Penrose sausages from convenience stores and other little stores were always sold out, but the ones in Best Foods and World Market stores never sold out. Different demographic maybe. Anyway, I did my part, the rest of you all get to calling. Thanks Dave, for posting this info.

goofyon9567 please bring back the jars the store owners are getting mad,i buy them out as soon as they get them,tryed maken own,did not work out well.PLEASE BRING BACK THE JARS.Iwould even sale them in my areateres

Like all the comments you've seen; my family misses the penrose sausage also. They were a regular with us. We would cut sausage into 4 pieces, cube some chedder cheese and use green olives..then we would take toothpicks and layer them on the toothpicks..what a tasty finger food for parties or just to eat as a snack. Please, please make them again

This really sucks!! I also have been eating these since I was a kid!! At first I could handle them and my Dad would laugh is butt off at the faces that I'd make. But as i matured I could eat them as fast as dad could get them in the fridge!! I have been a fan of the Penrose Beer sausages since the mid 70's, it never fails every thing I love gets discontinued! please bring them back!! my mouth is watering just thinking of them!!

I, like everyone else on here miss the Penrose but recently discovered Hannah's pickled sausage, in jars at Walmart and it looks and taste just like the old Penrose. It was between 5-6$ for a 16oz jar. The company does not list a website on the jar but they have an number, 1 800-243-4452 (Monogram Meat Snacks co. in Tn.) I'm sure you can call to find where these are sold in your area.

I TOO LOVED PENROSE.I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND A REALLY GOOD SAUSAGE CALLED HERB'S THEY ARE REAL GOOD. BETTER THAN THAT WAL- MART CRAP.THEY ARE MADE IN NEW JERSEY NOT CHINA PHONE #1-856-423-6481 OR GO TO WEBSITE.I BOUGHT A WHOLE 39 CT.JAR.CAUSE I'M TRYING TO LOOSE WEIGHT.

Finally was able to procure the Long Lake Red Hot Pickled Polish Sausage. These are what the Penrose Sausages were like years ago. I think the Penrose brand had slipped over the many changes of ownership over the years. The Long Lake brand brought back memories.Though they don't seem to have as long of a shelf life as the sell-by date implies- It seems to me the taste deteriorates long before the sell-by date arrives-when fresh they are far superior to the last offerings that were produced by Con-Agra in the jarred Penrose line. Apparently there are still quality products out there, they're just becoming increasingly difficult to find. Many thanks to Dave's Cupboard for this great find.

I too love the Penrose sausage. I have looked in all stores in my local area in Ky. and no one has them. I was told the manufacturing plant burnt. Not sure if this is true. We need them back on the shelf.

Who is the insane person that decided to take away my sausages? What di I ever do to deserve this? Now that "y'all" have discontinued the jarring of the hot sausages I will no longer buy them AT ALL! I know that they are sold individually, but I ain't gonna eat 'em! I am going on strike! If you agree with me contact me on facebook: Larry Hahn Richmond VA.

my husband and i miss these sausages why did you quit making them we used to buy a jar a week and eat with cheddar cheese ive eat these since small with my grandfather really wish you would bring them back

My aunt and grandma used to bring these back to Iowa for us when they would drive to Pennsylvania to visit family. I haven't has them since I was a kid, but all these yrs I have remebered how good they were and have wished I could have them again. I was so disappointed when I recently decided to try ordering online and found they had been discontinued! Please bring Penrose Sausages back!

Its been a big thing with me and my dad we love to eat them...I have been looking 4 that one jar that is still around...it was that one thing I loved when I was a kid...wish they would take orders I would pay so much to get some

One of my friends just told me they had been discontinued the other day. I didn't believe him do i checked up on it. I am very disappointed. I had some at home but now I will have to watch how many I eat. I had a bunch of them because one Christmas thats all I asked for Christmas as a joke and thats what I got. I am so sad now.

No wonder we've looked for so long for those WONDERFUL Penrose pickled "hot" sausages in the jar; THEY'VE DISCONTINUED THEM !!! Does Conagra NOT UNDERSTAND that there are literally THOUSANDS of people in DENIAL SYNDROME right NOW ??? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE won't you bring them back to the marketplace. For at least 40 years my family has gone on picnics (or even at home when you get a craving) and the meal of the CENTURY is PENROSE HOT SAUSAGES with Banana Sandwichs and FRIED CHICKEN!!!!! There simply is NOTHING BETTER. PENROSE HOT SAUSAGES are great by themselves; but, they also add to about any meal you can make; I've even had them with my breakfast. We understand that Conagra must make a profit; JUST GIVE US BACK OUR PENROSE SAUSAGES...we'll pay your PRICE!!!!!

I have wonderful memories of eating Penrose sausages, sliced cheddar cheese, and crackers... I want that memory back... I'll visit the Facebook page and make calls to ConAgra, and just keep my fingers crossed that it does some good.

I started buying the Penrose Jars in college in the 70's. They were fantastic before they added chicken to them. But they were some treat, I would eat the whole jar easily. Thanks for the info on the jars, I was wondering. But I have been buying the shrink wrapped Big Mama, I just had one, they are fantastic!!!!! They are firm and delicious. But in the long run the jarred sausages are more feasible in price.

You really know how to make a person cry!Please bring back the pickled sausage! Me and my daughter are both huge fans, and won't eat any other brand than Penrose pickled sausages!Nothing else can compare, the rest are just duds!Been a long time since I have even ate one, just the thoughts of them make my mouth water!Why don't you at least try it again, and see how the sales go? I bet they won't stay on the shelves long enough or be in stock fast enough!Being totally serious here, you should think about it!

I've had my wife searching for these forever now and she couldn't find em anywhere. So this morning I decided to try to find them online and I found this website. This is devastating news! I've been eating those things since I was a kid. Some Penrose Sausages with some Ritz Crackers is one of the best snacks ever!

I was researching for a few people who was wondering what happened to the best hot sausage ever!! and found out they no longer exist why?? We need it back it's one of those foods that people have had growing up and childhood memories.

I too ate quite a few of these gems and sipped the juice until the jar was completely empty but there were many other disappointing discontinues from other companies. Keebler quit making my favorite cookie, the double fudge chocolate sandwich cookie. And if not gone, the rare Kraft bacon and horseradish dip. It is also difficult to find the Zagnut candy bar and I miss those braided Marathon bars. It seems everytime I go liking something, it's not long it disappears like Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck Hot BBQ sauce. Doubt there is little chance in ever seeing these memories again.

I believe the fire at this ConAgra plant was the main reason why they discontinued the product.

It wasn't profitable enough to move production to another facility and have to buy the required equipment.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5313797/

The same basic product is still available in single serving form, but not jarred.

http://www.conagrafoods.com/our-food/brands/penrose-pickled-sausages

There are some great recipes on the internet for making a similar tasting sausage at home. They won't keep as well, but they have the right flavor. I know I posted one to this blog a couple of years ago.

Boy did I have this all wrong. Wal-Mart was the only store in my town that carried the jars. I thought they had quit carrying them like many other products I had been purchasing. I do not like the Eckridge brand they replaced it with. Now a few years later I find Hanna's pickled sausage on their shelves. Hanna's are not bad but to salty for my taste that is what led me to the site tonight Looking to see if I could buy them online.

I just talked to ConAgra and got the standard response from the receptionist who answer the phones so I sent an email. Here it is. Everyone send the same thing and let's get our product back on the shelves!

Hello Mr Knudsen,I have been hoping for the last several years to see my beloved Penrose Hot Sausages back on the shelves at my local grocer. To my dismay I was informed that ConAgra has discontinued them. I along with thousands of others want this product available again for our enjoyment. If you are not going to produce, market, and sell this product again, would you do me the favor of letting me have the recipe? I will make them myself if I have to. You mustn't be aware of the many people who have enjoyed your product and did so for many many years. We feel we have lost a part of our childhood with the loss of this particular product. I would hope that you take a look via Google in reference to all the people who want this product back. Have your research team look into the costs versus the projected sales of this wonderful product and give it the opportunity to be produced again. A quick response is always appreciated,

I was once a fan of Penrose sausages also, but take heart, you can make a very good form yourself! Take 2 lbs of polish sausages cut into short segments about 1 1/2 in ch long, (cooked), 3 c vinegar, 1 large onion sliced, 1/3 c. brown sugar, 1 TBS. crushed red pepper, 3 cloves of garlic sliced thin, 2-3 bay leaves, and 1 Tbs peppercorns. Layer onions & sausage in a large jar, combine rest of ingredients and bring to a boil, pour over the sausages. Coll and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days then enjoy.

Penrose was THEE best. The Big Mama and the others are NOT the same you have to have the vinegary pickley juicy goodness in the jar they happily bathe in!!! I used to could eat a jar a day. Yea, for real

Ok, I have found the Penrose sausage jarred. Same sausage same formula, both hot and regular. In fact the sausages are of a little better quality meat but still have that same texture we love. Look for "Backroad Country" manufactured by Troyer Cheese, Inc, Millersburg OH 44645. www.troyercheese.com

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